The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-19
WORK OF AN AWFUL HABIT.
The Sad Story of DR.. Charles H. Brad
Law
Fropl the Nev YORK Times


DIR. Charles III. Bradley, who two years
ago held an excellent position as practicing
physician in Chicago, but who ruined him
self and his family by the use of cocaine.
was a prisoner in the Jefferson Market
Police Court yesterday. He was all broken
up by the habit and, although but 35 years
old, he looked more like 90. He was pale
and emaciated and tottered up the bench
when the case was called. A number of
physicians in this city have within the past
month been victimized by person calling
them up late at night and borrowing their
hypodermic syringes on the pretense that
they were needed in an urgent case by a
physician whose instrument was out of
order. SO frequent had these thefts become
that one of the victims published a warning
TO the profession.
Between 3 and o'clock yesterday morn
ing Dr. Everett Her1cB, of 126 Madison
avenue was aroused by man why present.
ed note purportlng to come from DR.. n.
M. Schaetfer. 1t was written on one of DR.
Schaeffer's prescription blanks, and urged
DIR. Herrick to send by bearer his hypoder-
syringe. DR. Herrick gave the messenger
the case and syringe and then followed and
gave him in custody of apoliceman. He was
recognized as DIR. Bradley. The doctor
admitted obtaining the syringes from the
doctors by means of forged notes, but said
that his principal object was to obtain the
opium which accompanied each case, as he
had no money TO purchase the opiate He
was a slave to the habit. he said, and it was
impossible for him to do without opium for
twenty-four hours.
DIR. Bradley figured prominently before
the public in Chicago several times. His
case attracted the attention of the medical
profession there, and many newspaper
articles have been written about
him. About two years ago he
was in the enjoyment of a lucrative
practice and resided in fashionable quarter
of the city. He was talented to degree,
and was looked on as one Of the rising
physicians of Chicago. He had happy
home, devoted wife, and several interest
ing children. By degrees his friends and
patients began to notice that his actions
were unnatural. They could assign no
reason for it, because every one knew he
was not drinking man. At times the
doctor would be i'll exceptionally fine spirits.
then again he would apper utterly depressed
and talk as If the hand of every man was
ralsec against him.
AS each of these attacks OF melancholy
succeeded each other, and they did so with
rapidly increasing frequency, the doctor
began losing his practice. Patients would
call at his house only to be told he was sick
Calls were neglected and he withdrew more
and more from society. Bradley sold his
horse and buggy, and then his household
furniture began to disappear into pawn
shops, and at last his familiar and now
shGbbily dressed figure was seen but little
on the streets. Then he was missed alto
gether. The neighbors were the first to
notice his disappearance. The blinds of his
house had been closely drawn for several
days. Gossiping neighbors discovered
that Mrs. Bradley and the children had not
been seen for several days Some one went
to the police station. An officer was sent
to the house and the back door was burst
open. There was no sigr of life on the lover